title: Ultra-high performance size-exclusion chromatography of synthetic polymers: demonstration of capability.
abstract: Ultra-high performance size-exclusion chromatography (UHP SEC) is a newly developed disruptive technology that allows the high-resolution separation of synthetic polymers in as little as 2 min. The capability of UHP SEC for the characterization of synthetic polymers in organic solvents has been demonstrated. Using the Waters ACQUITY UPLC® H-Class system and ethylene-bridged hybrid size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) columns packed with 1.7 to 2.5-μm particles with pore sizes ranging from 45 to 900 Å, size-based separations of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) standards in tetrahydrofuran and poly(ethylene oxide) standards in 20 mM ammonium acetate in methanol are achieved within 2-4 min. The speed of analysis is about ten times faster than conventional SEC separations, and greater resolution is achieved. Average molecular weights of selected commercial polymers have been determined using ultra-high performance and conventional SEC. Average M data of analyzed samples are in good agreement using the two approaches. An inherent limitation of SEC in UHP mode is the characterization of very high M polymers (above ca. 2 million Da) due to the deformation and/or mechanical shearing of large molecules at high flow rates.
authors.affiliation: Core R&D Analytical Sciences, The Dow Chemical Company, Spring House, PA 19477-0904, USA. mjanco@dow.com
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janco
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Edouard S P
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morrison
keywords: Poly(ethylene oxide); Poly(methyl methacrylate); Polystyrene; UHP SEC; Ultra-high performance size-exclusion chromatography